Improvement in treatment of fibers of tampico hemp



' and as Tampico hemp, which process of will evaporate the moisturetherefrom in the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

W. STAUFEN, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

IMPROVEMENT lN TREATMENT OF FIBERS OF TAMPICO HEMP.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 20,827, dated July 6,1858.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WERNER STAUFEN, of theKingdom of Prussia, but at present residing in London, have invented anew Process of Treating the Fiber of the AgaveAmericanaan article knownin commerce as Mexican grass treatment gives to the said fiber therounduess and elasticity of horse-hair and makes it fully cqual to thatarticle for some manufacturing purposes and greatly superior tohorse-hair for other purposes.

As found for sale in the great marts of business, the individual fibersof the aforesaid fibrous substance are irregular in shape, are quiteporous, and they possess but little elastieity. They also readily absorbmoisturefrom the atmosphere, and consequently they will not remain in acurled state for any considerable length of time when put into saidstate by any of the previously-known methods of accomplishing the same.

The process by which I change the properties ot'the said fibroussubstance is as follows, viz: I prepare an alkaline solution byincorporating two pounds ofsoda and twelve ounces of slaked lime withevery four gallons of water employed in producing the required quantityof said solution. I then immerse the said fibrous substance in saidsolution and allow it to remain therein for such a. length of time asmay be necessary to thoroughly saturate each ofits individual fibers,which will generally be accomplished in from one to two hours. As soonas this has been accomplished I transfer the said fibrous substance to adrying-chamher and subject it to such a degree of heat as shortest spaceof time that it can be accomplished without injuring the strength ofsaid fiber. From 150 to 250 of Fahrenheit will be found to be ajudicioustemperature to employ in the said drying process. When taken from thesaid drying-chamber the said fibrous substance can be used as asubstitute for hair in the manufacture of various woven fabrics,

and it can also be used as a substitute for bris tles in themai'iufacture of various kinds of brushes. To put the said preparedfiber into a permanently-curled state, it must be first twisted, thensoftened in water, and then dried by the action of a high degree ofartificial heat.

Any desired color can be given to the said fibrous substance by addingthe proper coloring materials to the aforesaid alkaline solution, orthesaid fibrous substance may be transferred from said solution directly tothe coloring-vat preparatory to subjecting said fibrous substance to theaction of a high degree of heat in the drying-chamber.

I wish to have it understood that 1 do not intend to limit myself to anyexact proportion of the individual ingredients employed in thepreparation of the alkaline solution made use ofin this my improvedprocess of treating the fiber of the plant known as the Agave Americana.The strength and character ofthe said alkaline solution may be varied ascircumstances may require or as practical experience may suggest.

VVhatI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

Changing the properties of the fibers of the plant known as the AgaveAmericana by first saturating said fibers with an alkaline solution andthen immediately submitting the same to the action of a high degree ofartificial heat, substantially as herein described, and preparatory tousing said fibers as a substitute for horse-hair and bristles in theproduction'ot' various useful articles.

The above specification of my improved method of treating the fiber ofthe Agave Americana, known as Mexican grass and Tampico hemp, signed andwitnessed this 21st day of May, 1858.

WERNER STAUFEN.

Witnesses Z. O. ROBBINS, J. Q. ADAMS.

